Differential amplifier method of cancelling ripple pick-up



Feb. 144, 1956 D J, GREEN ET AL DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER METHOD OF CANCELLING RIPPL PICK-UP 2 Sheets-Sheet.y l

Filed May 7, 1951 HEM.

Feb. 14, 1956 D, GREEN ET AL 2,734,944

DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER METHOD OF CANCELLING RIPPLE PICK-UP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May '7, 1951 wmv sforna n DIFFERENTIAL AMPLEFER METHOD F CNCELLENG RPPLE PlCK-UP David I. Green, Pacific Paiisades, Robert W. Landee,

Santa Monica, and Thomas 3. `iohnson, ir., Los Angeles, Calif., assigner-s to Giiiiilan Bros. inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 7, 1951, Serial No. 224,972

S Claims. (Cl. 178-69) The present invention relates to improved means and techniques whereby composite video signals may be transferred to remotely located stations without substantial interference due to electrostatic or electromagnetic nuences exerted by neighboring lines carrying currents of low frequency of, for example, 60 cycles; and specifically, without limiting the use of the present invention, the present invention relates to improved means and techniques whereby the video and related triggers and pulses in a radar system may be transmitted to a remote location over the same transmission line while preserving the iidelity of the composite video.

The present invention contemplates an improvement in ground controlled approach (G. C. A.) radar systems in which the echo receiving antenna may, for example, be located adjacent an aircraft landing strip with an associated indicator located at a remote position, as for example, in a control tower which may be located as much as two miles from the site of the antenna.

In such systems a part of the echo receiving system is located adjacent the antenna in which the received echoes are detected, and the resulting video is transferred over a transmission line, such as a coaxial cable, to the control tower at which the video is applied to a cathode ray tube to produce visual indications of the video.

Such video is comprised of different frequency components extending, for example, from below 60 cycles per second to 3 megacycles, and it is desirable that the video be conveyed without appreciable loss in fidelity from the antenna to the remotely located cathode ray tube indicator. One of the chief factors contributing to loss in fidelity in systems of this character results from interferring voltages induced into the connecting lines from neighboring power lines. These voltages, induced electromagnetically or electrostatically, are of course of power frequency and have caused considerable trouble in the past, particularly since these pickup voltages may not remain constant either in amplitude or in phase Heretofore, different attempts have been made to overcome the deleterious effects produced by such interfering voltages such as, for example, using a shielded twisted cable pair and a low pass filtering networks. Such networks leave much to be desired, since they require elaborate design, are bulky, and themselves introduce undesirable time delay and require adjustment, depending upon the intensity of the voltage induced and its phase. This problem is made more ditiicult in those instances where the level of these interference voltages exceeds that of the transmitted video signal.

Furthermore, diiiculties are encountered in systems of this character because, as observed, the actual ground potential at points spaced in the order of two miles may dilfer as much as 5-volts. This difference in voltage likewise may vary in magnitude and in phase, depending upon the loading of neighboring power lines and other electrical facilities, and introduce certain deleterious effects unless precautions are taken against the same.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to raf*ice provide improved means and techniques whereby the elect of the interfering voltages of power frequency is minimized, whereby the Video may be transferred to a remotely located station without appreciable loss in fidelity.

Specically, an object of the present invention is to provide means and a teaching whereby the effect of interfering signals of power frequency induced in a long transmission line carrying composite video frequencies may be minimized or eliminated.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved remoting system whereby a composite video signal which includes echo signals, triggers and pulses may be transferred over the same transmission line extending to a remotely located indicating station without deleterious effects produced by induction of voltages of power frequency from neighboring power lines and by differences in ground potential between the remoting station and the remotely located station.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide improved means incorporating an auxiliary cable subjected to the same interference as the transmission line cable and related apparatus, whereby such interference may be cancelled out so as to produce no appreciable effect on the composite video.

Another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved remoting system of the character indicated in the preceding paragraph, in which a differential amplifier serves to produce cancellation of video but yet serves as a passive network for the composite video free from such interference.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a schematic representation of remoting apparatus for achieving certain advantages of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a graphical representation of the composite video train which is transferred by the apparatus shown in Figure 1 from a remoting location to a remotely located location without appreciable interference resulting from electrostatic and/or electromagnetic pickup or from diiferences in ground potential between the two stations;

Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are useful in illustrating the action of the equalizer stage 20 in restoring the high frequency components of the video train which are lost in transmission over the remoting line or cable l2. All of these curves illustrate the manner in which the different frequency components of the video train are attenuated in proportion. Figure 3 serves to illustrate the result obtained. Figure 4 serves to illustrate the characteristic of the remoting line or cable 12. Figure 5 serves to illustrate the relative contributions made by the two parallel tuned circuits in the equalizer stage, and Figure 6 serves to illustrate the necessity for using two parallel tuned circuits in the equalizer stage for obtaining good fidelity.

Brieliy, without limiting the scope of the present invention, it is described specifically herein for accomplishing the purpose of transmitting a composite video train, of the character shown in Figure 3, from the input terminal 10 at the remoting station 11 over a transmission line 12 to a remotely located station 13, for producing indications on a cathode ray tube incorporated in the in# dicating apparatus shown in block form at 14.

The components of the composite video train shown in Figure 2 are clearly indicated therein, and such composite video train is produced using the arrangement de- 5 scribed and claimed in the copendng patent application of Landee et al., Serial No. 247,616, tiled September, 2'1', 1951 and assigned' to the same assignee as the present application.

Briefly, such. composite video train includes. the. echo signals of the radar system, range marksV inthe form of pulses, modulated in. amplitude, however, for purposes of conveying so-called V-follower information,

both C and L triggers useful in the formation of thedis-- play on the cathode. ray. tube, such- C. and. L triggers, however, being' both. modulatedv in amplitude for conveyinginformation to the remotely located station asto whether the azimuth antenna or the elevation' antenna The4 is at that particular time scanning through space. composite video train alsoincludes. a so-called reference trigger and arelated data trigger, the variable spacing..

of course is receptive to the composite video train, and

may for that purpose comprise the equipment shown and described specifically in the aforementioned copending patent applicatiom SerialV No. 247,161.

The composite video applied to the. terminal and' central conductor of the coaxial cable 12,` having. its sheath grounded, is after reception: at the remotelylocated station 13 subjected to the action of the: differential amplifier 15, which includes the tubes 176, 17 and 18. The output of the differential amplilier 15 appear ing at the anode of tube 16 is subjected to anf equalizing network 20, which includes the tube 21'. The output of such equalizing network 20 appearing at the anode of tube 21 is coupled to the indicating apparatus 14 through coupling condenser 22.

In accordance with certain important aspects of the present invention, an auxiliary transmission line 23, termed the cancellation line, is used for the purpose of cancelling bothersome interfering pickup voltages which may be induced in the transmission line 12. For this purpose, the cancellation line 23 is ofidentical structure as the transmissionv line 12, and extends parallel therewith in closely spaced relationship, so that such-1ine 23' is` subjected to the same interference as the transmission line 12. Also, the terminating impedances at corresponding ends of the lines 12 and 23 are substantially the same, although, as will be described hereinafter, theV terminating impedance of the line 23 at the remotely located station 13 is made adjustable for accomplishing.

cancellation. At the remoting or transmitting station 11, the terminating impedances for the lines 12 and 23 are fixed in magnitude and comprise resistances 25 and 26, respectively.

At the remotely located station 13, the terminating:

28; (2) the adjustable cancellation gain resistance 29v shunted by the condenser 30. The tap on resistance 29- is connected to one terminal of adjustable cancellation balancing resistance 31. The other terminal of resistance 31 is connected to the control grid of tube 17.

to thecontrol grid ofk tube 17 and. theY other one of its terminals connected to the ungrounded terminal ofA volt The: fixed resistance 32has one of its terminals connected:

source 33; which may be considered for present purposes to have zero resistance.

Thus, the outputs from the lines I2 and 23Y are applied to the control gridsv of tubes 16 and 17, respectively. Tubes 16 and 17 have their cathodes connected jointly to the anode of tube 18, of the pentode type. The screen grid of tube 18 is returned to ground through resistance 35 shunted by condenser 36. The control grid of'tube 18 is connected to the negative ungrounded terminal of voltage source 37 and the cathode of tube 18- likewise is connected to such ungrounded terminall through resistance 38.

It is observed that pentode tube 18 is thus connected and serves as a constant current device for the flow of space current which. tiows jointly through tubesv 16 and 17. To complete a path for the flow of such space current, the positive ungrounded terminal' of voltage source 40 is connected to the anode of tubes 16 and 17 through corresponding plate resistances 41, 42.,

As will be described inl detail hereinafter, ther cit:- cuitry thus far described serves as a differential: amplier. effective to: substantially reduce or entirely eliminate the.' effects otherwise produced by inductionI of` interfering: voltages into the transmission' line 12, and from4 delev teriouseffects produced by differences-in groundipotentialbetween stations 11 and 13.

The cancelled outputV of this diterential amplier 15 is applied' from the anode of tube 16 through: cour pling. condenser 43 to the control grid of pentodetube` 21, such control grid beingmaintainedv at` a negative potential with respect to its grounded cathode by the: voltagesource 45 having its negative ungrounded terminal. connected to suchcontrol grid through serially connected? resistances. 46 and 47. The junction point of resistances. 46 and 47 isv returned to ground through resistance 48.. The tube Z1 forms a component part of the equalizer network 20, and while the specific form=of equalizer netf work show-n herein is preferred, it is understoodthat certain aspects of the present invention may be practiced' using other different types of equalizing; networksi The specilic network 20 shownV herein. serves: to-y pro-A duceA a. compensatory effect for the loss suffered by the.Y high frequency components of the video inits transmis.'-

sion through the cable or transmission line 12, which j may have a length of twov miles. To produce suchcompensatory effect,l the anode of tube 21 is serially# cons nected to the positive terminal. of voltage sourcen50' through equalizing circuits 51 52and variable. resistance` 53.` The equalizing circuit 51 includes shuntconn'ectedf resistance 51A, inductance 51B and condenser 51C.' Similarly, the equalizingl circuit'SZ includes shunt, connected resistance 52A, inductance 52B and condenser 52C. The screen grid of tube 21 is connectedtdirectly t`othe positive terminal of source 50. The output? of. the equalizer network 20 appearing at the anode of' tube-211'1 is coupled to the indicating apparatus 1-4 through cou'- pling condenser 22.

Since the components of the composite video. train are non-uniformly attenuated frequencywise by the; remoting cable or line 12, the equalizing network 20^serves to reshape the video signals, and this in general is accomplished by the network 20 which has approximately inverse frequency characteristics of the line.

The negative-going video signals from the endf of the remoting line 12 are applied to the controll grid of tube 16 through gain control resistance 27. Due tothe' extremely high signal impedance presented tolthe cath-, ode of tubes 16-and 17 by tube 18, any changein. current iny tube 16, due to signals aplied on-its grid,. are duplicated by changes in current in the opposite directiomby. tube 17. Inother words, signal: voltage appliedv tothe. grid' of.. tube 16 causes a direct transfer of. current: from tube'16. to tube 1*7. If on theother. hand, similar voltages are-appliedto. the'. grids of tubes 1.6.' and 17 'simultas neously, no` change' in plate current iny either tubegwill? result. The input to the grid of tube 17 is fromthe end of a dummy cancellation line 23, which is run parallel to the remoting line 12 so that any pickup and difference in ground potential may be duplicated at both grids of the differential amplifier 16, 17. Only the difference signals between the output of the remotng line 12 and the dummy line 23, which is the composite video train shown in Figure 2, result in current change in the differential amplifier tube. Noise and pickup having been cancelled, the video signals are taken from the plate of tube 16 as positive-going signals.

Using normal amplitude composite video into the line driver coupled to terminal and viewing the output video at the anode of tube 21 with a synchroscope, the following adjustments are made. Reduce video input to zero amplitude by grounding the tap on resistance 27, and set cancellation balance resistance 31, so that a differential reading between the movable tap and the grid of tube 17 shows zero D. C. voltage. Set the video gain resistance tap so that the proper level video appears. Now set the cancellation gain resistance 29 and cancellation phasing resistance 28 so that the ripple voltage (which is caused by inductive pickup on the lines 12, 23) is a minimum. These steps should be repeated two or three times due to interaction between the controls.

Tube 21 is used as in an equalizer stage. This stage uses as its plate load a combination of resistances, inductances, and capacitances in a circuit which gives an approximate inverse characteristic of the remoting line for pulse response, as mentioned previously.

Using this network 20, the overall bandwidth of the remoting equipment appears as shown in Figure 3, the equalizer thus compensating for the cable characteristics shown in Figure 4, up to approximately 3 megacycles per second.

In Figure l, the parallel circuit 51 comprising inductance 51B, condenser 51C and resistance 51A, is tuned to approximately 4 megacycles and without the parallel tuned circuit 52, the resultant overall response appears as shown in Figure 5, and it is noted that such response curve has a dip in it at aproximately 400 kilocycles. For this reason the additional tuned circuit 51 is used to raise this dip in the response curve, such circuit 51 being tuned to 400 kilocycles.

It should be pointed out that in attempting to correctly equalize with one parallel resonant circuit instead of two circuits, the following difhculties are encountered. Referring to Figure 6, the one circuit having been tuned to 4 mc. p. s., would produce curve b by itself alone and the overall system response would contain the dip (curve c). To produce a fiat response, the slope of curve b should be changed to that shown as d, which is the inverse characteristic of the remoting cable. This could be approximately accomplished by decreasing the Q or by decreasing the resonant frequency of the circuit. If the resonant frequency were decreased, the overall bandwidth would be decreased, thus resulting in a poor fidelity system. if the Q were decreased, the impedance of the circuit (Z=QWrL) would be decreased, thus necessitating an increase in either L or Wr to achieve the same impedance as before. (If the impedance were decreased, the overall bandwidth would also be decreased.) However, due to the fact that the total capacity across the tank circuit is approximately 30 auf., and that the resonance point is already at about 4 mc. p. s., the inductance has already reached its largest value of 50 nh. In other words, at the time the dip occurred, all circuit parameters were at their optimum values in regard to bandwidth, and it can be seen that at 10,000 feet of cable, and with one resonance circuit, it is possible to attain either 3 mc. p. s. overall response with a dip present or considerably less than 3 mc. p. s. with a fiat response. By tuning every remoting line equalizer to produce a dip in the response curve, optimum bandwidth is achieved. With the addition of another resonant circuit, as part of the equalizer,

tuned to the frequency at which the dip occurs, an es'- sentially fiat response with optimum bandwidth is attained.

The variable resistance 53 is set to produce the best quality of video at the output of this unit. The action of this resistance is to set the ratio of low frequency gain to high frequency gain, and thus to serve as a fine adjustment for shaping the overall responsive curve. Thus, there is available at the anode of the equalizer tube 21 the composite video train shown is Figure 2 with the high frequencies originally lost in transmssion restored by the equalizer stage 20.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. In a system of the character described wherein it is desired to transmit video signals to a remotely ,lo-- cated position over a passive transmission line subject to interference from neighboring sources of low frequency power lines, a differential amplifier coupled to said passive transmission line, an auxiliary transmission line extending generally parallel with said passive transmission line and subject to the same interference as said passive transmission line, and means coupling said auxiliary transmission line to said differential amplifier, said differential amplifier comprising: a first amplifying tube having a control electrode thereof coupled to said passive transmission line, a second amplifying tube having a control electrode thereof coupled to said auxiliary transmission line, said first and second amplifying tubes being connected in parallel to form a parallel circuit, and a constant current device serially connected with said parallel circuit.

2. In a system of the character described, a passive transmission line subject to interference from neighboring sources of low frequency power lines, an auxiliary transmission line substantially the same as said passive transmission line and extending generally parallel therewith throughout its entire length so that both said passive transmission line and said auxiliary transmission line are subject to the same interference, a first amplifying tube having a control electrode thereof coupled to said passive transmission line at said remotely located position, a second amplifying tube having a control electrode thereof coupled to said auxiliary transmission line, said first and second tubes being connected in parallel, a constant current device serially connected with the parallel connected first and second tubes, and an output circuit coupled to said first tube.

3. In a system of the character described, a passive transmission line, an auxiliary transmission line which is substantially the same as said passive transmisson line and of substantially the same length, and which extends generally parallel therewith so as to be subject to substantially the same interference, both said passive and auxiliary transmission lines terminating at a remote point, a first tube, means coupling a control electrode of said rst tube to said passive transmission line, a second tube, means coupling a control electrode of said second tube to said auxiliary transmission line, means connecting said first and second tubes in a parallel circuit, and said parallel circuit being serially connected with a constant current device, and an output circuit coupled to said first tube.

4. The arrangement set forth in claim 3 in which said means coupling said auxiliary line to said second tube comprises a cancellation phasing resistance serially connected with said auxiliary line, a cancellation gain resistance shunted by a condenser and serially connected with said cancellation phasing resistance, said cancellation gain resistance having an adjustable tap thereon, and a cancellation balancing resistance serially connected between said' tap and said' control electrode-of said secondi tubel p 5. In an arrangement of the character describedf, al passive transmission line, an auxiliary transmission line extending generally parallel with said passive line andY subject` to the same interference as saidpassive line, each; of said: transmission lines having an external grounded? sheath and an internal` conductor shieldedL by its corresponding sheath, the inner conductor of said passive' line; being connected to ground through a tapped resistance', the internal conductor of said auxiliary line being connected to ground through a cancellation phasing resistance which is serially connected with a tapped cancellation gain resistance shunted by acondenser, a istl amplifying tube having a control electrode thereofcoupledl to the tap on the tirst mentioned resistance, a second amplifying tube having a controlelectrode' thereof coupledl tol said tapon said cancellation gain resistance through a cancellation balancing resistance, both said first andi said second tubes connected in parallel and in series with a constantv current device, and an output circuit coupled to an output electrode of said first@ tube.

6. In a system of the character described', a passive' transmission line andan auxiliary transmission` line-extending, generally parallel and subject to the same interference, each of said lines having a groundedy sheath and a corresponding internal conductor, a first amplifying tube having a` control grid, a-second amplifying tube hav-` ing a control grid, a rst load resistanceserially connected-A with said rst tube, a second load resistance serially' connected with said second tube, means interconnectingl said first and second tubes and serial loadre's'ist'ances in parallel paths, a constant current device serially connected with therparallel connected first and second tubes, meansv coupling the control grid of saidl tirst tube" to the internal conductor of said passive line, means coupling theV control gridtof said second` tube to the internall conductor of said auxiliary line.

j 7. The arrangement set forth in claim 6 in which the last mentionedcoupling means comprises a' pair of serially'. connected resistances' between-ground and the internalj conductor of said auxiliary line, one of said resistan'cesl havin'gf-an adjustable l tap thereon andA being sbunted' by acondenserf, :india-:second adjustable resistance connected between saidit'ap andthe'- control grid ofsaid se'con'c'l1v tube.`

8. In a-Y system; of tli'e character? described, a passive transmissionline,V an auxiliarytra'nsmission line which is substantiallyt'ne'L same; as said passive transmisson line and of substantially theisan'ielengtn; and which extends generally' parallel therewith soA as` to be subject to substantially tbei same' interference',A both said passive and auxiliary transmission linesft'erminating at a remote point, a first tube, 1n'ea'r1s`-coupln'gJ al control electrode lof said first tubef'tolsaidlpassive transmission line, a second tube, means coupling a co'ntrolelectrode;-ofsaid second` tube to saidfauxiliaryf transmission line, means connecting said first andv second tubesl in a parallelE circuit, a constant current deviceseriall'3I connectediwith said parallel circuit, an output circuit coupled' to; said first tube, said means coupling' said` auxiliary lineltosaid second tube comprising" a' cancellationE phasing: resistance serially connected" withl said' auxiliaryI line, a cancellation gain resistance shunte'd by 'ai'y condlnser-v and'l serially connected with said cancellation phasing'resistance, the cancellation gain resistnce having" an adjustable tap thereon, a cancellation balancingf resistance serially connected between said tap@ and controli electrode' of said second tube, and said meanscouplin'g said passive line to said first tube comprisiiiga tap resistanceiserially connected with said -passive line', andthe-tap-on saidk resistance being connectedtmsaid control electrode of said iii-st tube. References Cited in tlie le of this patent l'Jl-II5I7ED STATES? PATENTS 1,917,035 Jacobs' July 4, 1933 2,201,337 Franke" May 21,1940 

